Today, I was deeply moved by Psalm 49, which priests and
religious prayed in the Divine Office.
This psalm speaks to me of realities in the forefront of the news of
today here in the U.S. of A. The
psalmist prays:
“Hear this! Listen, all people, everywhere,
both great and
small alike, rich and poor together.
“My heart is full
of insight; I will speak words of wisdom.
I will turn my
attention to a proverb and unravel its meaning as I play the harp.
I am not afraid in
times of danger, when I am surrounded by wicked enemies--
those who trust in
their riches and boast of their great wealth.
People can never
redeem themselves, cannot pay God the price for their ransom,
because the payment
for their life is too great.
What they can pay
will never be enough to keep them from destruction,
to let them live
forever.
They see that even
the wise dies, as well as the foolish and senseless.
They leave their
riches to others.
Their tombs are
their homes forever;
There they stay for
all time—even though they once had lands of their own.
Don’t be afraid
when people become rich,
when their wealth
grows even greater.
They cannot take it
with them when they die;
Their wealth will
not go down to the grave with them.
Even if they are
satisfied with this life
and are praised
because they are successful (according to human standards),
They will join all their ancestors in death,
where the darkness lasts forever.
Riches cannot keep them from death; they will die like
the beast of the field.”
How do the words of the psalmist touch you? What phrases
stand out for you? Pay attention, as that is where the Spirit is speaking to
your heart!
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